Stonington — A home on the 16-acre private Ram Island burned to the ground on Friday despite the efforts of firefighters arriving by boat.

The fire was first reported at 3:45 p.m. by someone who had spotted the plume of smoke from shore. Firefighters gathered at Noank Shipyard and boarded Mystic Fire Department’s firefighting boat, the only firefighting tool available to battle a fire on the island.

Mystic Fire Chief Frank “Fritz” Hilbert said the fire at the ranch-style home was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived and past the point where the structure could be saved.

Town records show the home is owned by the Ragsdale family and built in 1978. Hilbert said no one was home at the time of the fire, and livestock on the island were not in immediate danger. A barn on the island burned last February.

Hilbert said some of the Ragsdale family had gone to the island during the firefighting efforts to check on livestock.

Mystic firefighters were joined at the scene by firefighters from Noank, the Quaimbaug Fire Department in Stonington and Groton Long Point. Groton Long Point also had a boat used to shuttle firefighters and equipment from shore to the island.

Firefighters docked the boat at the island and hauled hoses to the structure, pumping water from the shore to the remains of the home and surrounding areas to stop it from spreading.

Firefighters from Mystic, Noank and Stonington respond to a fully involved structure fire on Ram Island between Mystic and Noank on Friday.Tim Cook/The DayBuy Photo

A building on Ram Island, at the mouth of the Mystic River burns Friday afternoon. Firefighters from Mystic, Noank and Stonington respond to battle the fire.Tim Cook/The DayBuy Photo

A building on Ram Island, at the mouth of the Mystic River burns Friday afternoon. Firefighters from Mystic, Noank and Stonington respond to battle the fire.Courtesy David Tod Johnstone

Firefighters from Mystic, Noank and other local departments finish off a fire that quickly destroyed a residence Friday afternoon on Ram Island, at the mouth of the Mystic River.Courtesy Anthony P. Manfredi Jr.

Firefighters from Mystic, Noank and other local departments finish off a fire that quickly destroyed a residence Friday afternoon on Ram Island, at the mouth of the Mystic River.Courtesy Anthony P. Manfredi Jr.